16 January 2006

Obituary John William Hanks

From a Hindsboro, Illinois newspaper.Funeral Rites for John Hanks Held Sunday AfternoonFuneral services for John Hanks were conducted Sunday afternoon from the Pleasent Grove church with Rev. Petty, minister of the Methodist Church at Newman in charge. Mr. Hanks passed away Friday morning at 3:30 o'clock, death being due to old age and a light stroke of paralysis.

John W. Hanks, son of Sidner and Elizabeth Hanks, was born in Brown County Indiana April 14 1856 where he grew to young manhood.

On July 7, 1880, at the age of 24, he was united in marriage to Amanda A. Craven of the same neighborhood.

The pioneering spirit, inherited no doubt from their immediate ancestors was strong in this young couple and they turned their westward hoping to build for themselves a home in the New West. Their first attempt was a farm near Arcola, but strange faces, the hardship and drudgery of the new land, the swamp and its attending evils were in such contrast to the wooded hill homeland which like a mirage kept beckoning until they returned to its enbrace.

And yet again the horses were hitched to the covered wagon, again their steps were retraced and this time with a determination to overcome all odds, they began operations near Humboldt and from there to farms just east of Hindsboro, and it was here while living on the Margason place they purchased the plot which for nearly forty years has been home, adding thereto as they, by hard work and careful planning were able ....

In the homestead children grew to maturity, namely Mrs. Henry Myers of Newman, Mrs. Edgar Curry, Mrs. Kenny Haas of Indianapolis, Sylvia of Amberdeen, Miss., Mrs. Bert Tuttle, Mrs. Ralph Douglas of Hindsboro, Mrs. Frank Barnett of Murdock, William of Champaign, Paul of Elkhart, Ind., and Mrs. Walter Thompson who has gone on leaving a little son to fill her place. There are also 32 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his wife and two brothers, Joseph and George of Forest, Okla.

Mr. Hanks was known far and wide as a man of his word, rigidly honest in his dealings with his fellow man, asking only what was due him and insisting the other be fully recompensed.

As he grew aged his concern was more and more to keep the home fires burning so that no matter how far away a child might get he could feel the warming welcome of the fireside, and how well they appreciated it is attested by the number and frequency of their gatherings.

Early in his young manhood days Mr. Hanks had a definate, clear cut experience in his religious life and often had related the details of that event and express the wish that he might come into it again. He departed this life march 3, (1933) being 76 years, 10 months and 19 days of age. Internment was made in the VanVoorhis cemetary.

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